"AGENT FOR A LAND AGENT."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 157, 28 July 1909, Page 4

"AGENT FOR A LAND AGENT."

DIFFICULTIES OF DEBTCOLLECTING. The Stipendiary Magistrate's Court yesterdii)' heard evidence hi the judgment summons case Dr. H. A. UcCleland v. Walter Blair, claim .£ll 2 S Bd. Mr. F. E. Wilson appeared for the judgment creditor, and explained that a summons liad been taken out for an (account due by tlie debtor for medical attendance upon liis wife. To secure the, withdrawal of the summons defendant gave ii cheque for the amount, which was dishonored at the bank. This was admitted.

| Judgment debtor, in the box, stilted that he had latterly boon acting as "an j agent lor a land agent." an occupation (■the suggestion of which seemed to amuse the gentlemen at the counsel table. Business had not been too brisk! however, and sinci- March, when the summons was issued, he had made onlv £lB above office expenses, and out of that lie had to keep his wife and family of five. His farm he had sold about two years ago, and his cash out of that was about £2OO. The bulk of that was lost by unlucky speculation, so that when he went into business he had no capital. "And what are you doing now? - ' queried counsel. 'Tm practically out of employment, and have no money. The furniture is my wife's. It was bought in her name when we were mar-: lied. I hava nothing. I may set up I ogam as u land agent .soon"—a state-1 jaent that caused another flicker j amongst tire legal lights. The debtor went on to admit having given ati order to have the amount ol this debt deducted from the lirst moneys- coming to him through his partner or principal, but as the order had not been presented lie had not felt it his business to have the money paid. The only offer he could make was to pay this account out of the first moneys coming to him that were not required for his living. The Magistrate was assured by the ('efciidant that his hooks recorded his earnings, and he felt that he would like to see them.

An adjournment for a week was granted tf> enaWc Mr. Wilson to subpoena a witness to produce the books.